1. June Lang: A Hollywood Career Extinguished
2. Fox Starlet and Leading Lady
3. Scandal and Career Decline
4. Personal Life and Legacy

June Lang: A Hollywood Career Extinguished

Early Life and Career

June Lang, born Winifred June Vlasek on May 5, 1917, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, entered the entertainment industry at a tender age. Her dance performances began at the age of five in local amateur theater productions. At seven, her family moved to Hollywood, where she joined the 'Meglin Kiddies' dance revue and appeared in vaudeville shows.

As a teenager, June pursued a professional career in show business, working as a chorus girl. She misled casting directors about her age, claiming to be 18 at just 13 to secure a role in the 1930 "Temptation."

Fox Starlet and Leading Lady

June Lang's film debut came in 1931's "Young Sinners." 20th Century Fox mogul Darryl Zanuck spotted her talent and cast her in leading roles, often in "B" movies. With her petite frame and delicate features, June played supporting roles and best friends to female leads in comedies and adventure films.

Gradually, June Lang ascended to leading lady status. Notable films include "Bonnie Scotland" (1935) with comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, "The Road to Glory" (1936), "Ali Baba Goes to Town," and "One Wild Night."

Scandal and Career Decline

June Lang's first marriage to her agent, Victor Orsatti, ended in divorce after a year. Her reputation took a significant blow when she married known mobster Johnny Roselli in 1940. Unaware of his criminal connections, June's career was terminated by the studio when the truth emerged.

Despite divorcing Roselli in 1943 due to his refusal to pursue legitimate business, June Lang struggled to fully revive her film career. Ironically, Roselli would later leave his criminal past behind, working as an assistant producer in the film industry in the 1950s.

Personal Life and Legacy

June Lang married a third time in 1946 to Lieutenant William John Morgan, with whom she had a daughter. However, they divorced in 1952. She reflected on her marriages with regret, admitting that she had "married with my eyes closed."

Some speculate that June Lang's career decline began in 1938 when she defied Fox Studio head Darryl Zanuck's orders to travel to England amidst rising war tensions. Her return to the United States without permission allegedly led to a halt in her film roles. The marriage to a mobster was the final nail in the coffin.

After years of fruitless attempts to return to the big screen, June Lang retired from acting in 1947. She made occasional television appearances, with her last role being in a 1961 episode of "The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor."

June Lang passed away on May 16, 2005, in Valley Village, California, at the age of 88. She was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Actor